Control for printing and service functions of an accounting machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for partially overlapping the printing cycle of a printing device and the tabulating cycle of a tabulating device. The apparatus comprises means for indicating in a predetermined printing cycle if the following cycle is a tabulating cycle for starting this latter cycle before the end of the present printing cycle.

United States Patent [191 Zambolin et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF AN ACCOUNTING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Adriano Zambolin, Ivrea;

Gianfranco De Falco, Samone, both of Italy [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C0., S.p.A., lvrea,

Italy [22] Filed: June 21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 481,558

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 12, 1973 Italy 69083/73 [52] U.S. Cl 197/19; 197/114 R; 197/127 R; 197/176 [51] Int. Cl. B41J 5/30; B41] 5/44 [58] Field of Search 197/12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 197/20, 114 R, 176, 177, 178, 179, 127 R; 178/17 R, 17 A, 17 B, 17 C, 17 D, 17 E, 23, 25, 33 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,785 6/1944 Reiber 197/114 R Madsen 197/114 R 3,4l4,l03 12/1968 Knudsen et a1. 197/20 3,541,232 11/1970 Ukmar et al.

3,612,239 10/1971 Schaefer 197/16 3,640,370 2/1972 Denley 197/114 R 3,641,262 2/1972 Babler 197/16 X 3,643,773 2/1972 3,646,268 2/1972 Ricciardi et a1. 197/176 X Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant ExaminerR. E. Suter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schuyler, Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett ABSTRACT An apparatus for partially overlapping the printing cycle of a printing device and the tabulating cycle of a tabulating device. The apparatus comprises means for indicating in a predetermined printing cycle if the following cycle is a tabulating cycle for starting this latter cycle before the end of the present printing cycle.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,927,274

UOZI-(IOJLUEE CONTROL FOR PRINTING AND SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF AN ACCOUNTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to an accounting or other office machine including apparatus for controlling the printing and service functions of the machine and the like. In such apparatus various code combinations are used to denote both characters and service functions and it is known to decode successive combinations and correspondingly to control a printing mechanism for printing characters and an actuating mechanism for performing the service functions.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of apparatus adapted to control printing and service functions are known. In general, these comprise a decoding mechanism constituted by code bars which are positioned according to the code combinations present, and an actuating mechanism for performing the function defined by the code combination received. In these types of apparatus the printing and service cycles succeed one another without any overlapping, that is a service cycle is started only after a printing cycle has been concluded. The result is slow operation and the apparatus is not suitable for machines having a high operating speed.

Other types of apparatus are moreover known in which a partial overlapping of the cycles is effected for the purpose of obtaining a higher operating speed. One of these comprises a printing mechanism which can be connected cyclically to the decoding bars through the medium of a clutch controlled by an electromagnet. This electromagnet is activated by a bit corresponding to a certain code combination to be carried out and indicates only whether the following cycle will again be a printing cycle and is not used in the event of the following cycle being a service cycle. In fact, this bit serves only to maintain the printing mechanism connected with the bar decoding mechanism through the medium of the clutch.

It is clear that, while there is a certain overlapping of cycles in the case of successive printing cycles, in order to carry out a service cycle it is necessary to resort to a separate mechanism which performs the service cycle following upon the printing cycle. Moreover, this apparatus has the disadvantage that the print character decoding mechanism remains unused during the service cycle.

There exists, moveover, another apparatus comprising a decoding mechanism for the code combinations relating to the printing and a printing mechanism which are actuated in succession. While the decoding mechanism deals witha fresh code combination, the printing mechanism carries out the printing cycle corresponding to the preceding code combination. A partial overlapping of the cycle of execution with the cycle of reception of a print code combination is thus achieved.

For carrying out a service function, there is another decoding mechanism for the service functions in parallel with the printing mechanism and which senses the first decoding mechanism cyclically and, when it recognizes a code combination relating to a service function, actuates the corresponding service mechanism and inhibits the printing. Although this apparatus achieves a partial overlapping of cycles, it has the disadvantage of requiring a double decoding device. Moreover, the

2 printing mechanism is still prearranged even if the decoded code combination is not that of a character to be printed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to achieve an overlapping of the printing and service functions, making it possible to specify the type of function to be carried out following that in course of execution and to have a single decoding device for the code combinations relating to the characters to be printed and to the service functions to be carried out.

According to the present invention, there is provided an accounting or other office machine having an apparatus for controlling printing and service functions represented by predetermined code combinations, comprising a set of first mechanical elements positionable in accordance with the code combinations, sets of second and third mechanical elements, a selective transfer mechanism operative to position either the second or the third elements in accordance with the positions of the first elements, a printing mechanism for printing characters determined by at least some of the second elements, an actuating mechanism responsive to at least some of the third elements to perform service functions, and directing means controlled in. accordance with the position of one of the first elements to select which of the second and third elements are positioned by the selective transfer mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the electronic part controlling the apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a section of a part of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the line-spacing and hopper-opening control assembly;

FIG. 6 is a time diagram of the functions which can be executed by the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the processor controlling the device of the preceding figures; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the buffer register and of the microprograms controlling the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus embodying the invention is controlled by a group of electromagnets l to 13 which, however, may be variable in number in dependence upon the number of functions and the type of code used for controlling the apparatus.

Referring now to the FIGS. 7 and 8, the groups setting up the machine, programs and microprograms stored into a memory 221 will be described. The microprograms supply information toelectromagnets 1-13 (FIG. 1) derived from the instructions of the utility program and from operation results requested by it.

The user program to be processed is already stored in the section RAM of the memory 221 (FIG. 7) (which is a type known in the a In the memory section ROM are permanently stored microprograms which execute the instructions of the' machine. These microprograms are shown in FIG. 8 INTERPRETER 2412 The section ROM also stores the 3 microprograms handling the peripheral units 224.

A section 223 (ZRM) of the RAM storing stores the results of the processing to be sent to the peripheral units 224 and to the electromagnets 1-3 and viceversa.

In particular ZRM-223 comprises a buffer register 230 storing the characters and the commands to be sent to the printing device 120 and to the tabulation device 121.

A two-bytes-register 227 is the MAR of the memory 221 and it is connected to the channels 219 and 220 coming from the central processor unit CPU-216.

The channel 220 is further connected to a one byteregister 228. This latter MDR register 228 stores the character to be written into the RAM or the one read from it.

The CPU-216 is of known type and performs arithmetical and logical operations according to the instructions read from the RAM.

In FIG. 7 there is shown an instruction register 217 (IAR), and an accumulator register 218. The IAR-217 stores generally the microinstructions codes and in particular it stores the input-output microinstructions codes when an operation relating to the peripheral units 224, 120, 121 is required.

The accumulator 218 stores the information byte to be sent to the peripheral units 224, 120 and 121, or to the-RAM and viceversa.

The channels 219 and 220 are further connected to a multiple peripheral control unit 215 which controls the input-output operations. The multiple peripheral control unit 215 handles the priority order among the interrupt requests generated by the peripheral units 224, 120, 121.

The output register for the data to be sent to the electromagnets .1-13 comprises the flip-flops 201-213.

There will now be described the operations performed by the CPU-216 under the control of the program in order to generate the signals to be sent to the electromagnets 1-13.

The utility program 240 (FIG. 8) comprises a sequence of instructions having the data to be processed. In particular the utility program 240 comprises also instructions for printing the operation results and for controlling the tabulating device 121.

The microprogram interpreter 241 is permanently stored into the ROM-222 (FIG. 7) and it comprises a sequence of microinstructions for recognizing each instruction and for commanding the units of the CPU- 216 to perform the operations associated with each instruction.

In FIG. 8 has been pointed out the block 242 which handles the peripheral units 120, 121. Such a block reads the characters stored in the buffer register 230 and transmits to the electromagnets 1-13 the sequence of bits relating to character to be printed or to the tabulating positions.

When the microprogram interpreter 241 recognizes a print or tabulation instruction or a tabulator, it transfers into the buffer 230 the code of the character to be printed or the position to be reached by the printing device 120.

For example if the number 123 is to be printed and afterwards the printing device 120 must tabulate 50 steps, the interpreter 241 stores in the buffer 230 a first service character indicating that the following characters are to be printed, followed by the characters 1, 2, 3. Then the interpreter 241 stores a second service character indicating that the following character is a tabulation position, followed by the character 50.

The block 242 sequentially reads the characters stored in the buffer 230 and transfers them to the unit 215.

The first service character PS is read in the cell together with the first character to be printed (number 1), stored in the cell 161 Consequently the electromagnets 1l3 are selectively activated according to the code corresponding to the character I. The electromagnet 1 is named the look-ahead electromagnet and stores also a bit which indicates if the successive character indicates a character to be printed or a tabulation position; this will be described in more detail in the following description.

The logical value of this look-ahead electromagnet is calculated by the block 242 which verifies if the following character is a character to be printed. In this example the character to be printed is the character 2, whereby the look-ahead electromagnet is not energized.

When the character 3 is to be sent to the electromagnets l-l3 the microprogram 242 recognizes that the following character is a tabulation character, whereby it energizes the look-ahead electromagnet together with the electromagnets 2-12 identifying the character 3.

Of course, the look-ahead process just described can be performed by not using a microprogram, but using a mechanical or a logical device, the only important thing is in transmitting together with the several characters an information relating to the type of the following character. This information is utilized by the mechanism according to the invention for partially overlapping the printing cycles and tabulation cycles.

The elements 221, 224, 223, 230, 227, 216, 228, 217, 218, 215, 240, 241, 242, are not described in detail, because they are well known in the field of computer design. However said elements are described in our Brit. Pat. No. 1,329,753.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electromagnets 1 to 12 are connected in known manner, not shown in the drawing, to the same number of bars 20a to n, of which only the bar 20a corresponding to the electromagnet 1 and the bar 2011 corresponding to the electromagnet 12 are shown in FIG. 2. The number of bars naturally depends on the number of electromagnets employed. The subscripts j and k are omitted in the series a to n.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the bars 20a to n are shifted longitudinally with respect to the frame 33 of the machine in known manner by the electromagnets l to 12. The bars 20a to n have at one end a fork 34a to n formed by two projections 35a to n and 36a to n, respectively, separated by a gap 37a to n (FIG. 4).

The forks 34a to n can co-operate with the same number of substantially T-shaped sensing elements 38a I to n, the two ends 39a to n and 40a to n of the top arm of which can co-operate selectively and alternately with one of the two projections 35a to n and 36a to n of the bars 20a to n. The vertical arm 45a to n of each of the sensing elements 380 to n can co-operate selectively with a first slider 46a to n or with a second slider 47a to n. Each of the sliders 46a to n is provided with two projections 48a to n and 49a to n, while each of the sliders 47a to n is provided with two projections 50a to n and 51a to n. The bars 46a to n and the bars 47a to n are adapted to assume one or the other of two positions according to the rotation imparted to the sensing elements 38a to n.

Thus, the sensing elements 38a to n can rotate about a shaft (FIG. 2) fixed at the ends 56 and 57 of two levers 58 and 59, which can swing about a shaft 60 turning in the frame 33 of the machine.

The other end of the lever 58 co-operates with one end 66 of a second lever 67 which is oscillated about a shaft 68 fixed with respect to the frame 33 by a pair of complementary cams 69 and 70. The cam 70 comprises a projection 70a, cooperating with a pin 67a fixed to the lever 67. The cams 69, 70 are rotated by a driven shaft 71 which derives its motion from a driving shaft 72 through the medium of a clutch coupling 73 of known type, for example, as described in our US. Pat. No. 3,552,530 The coupling 73 is activated by the electromagnet 13 in any known manner.

Keyed on the shaft 71 is a lug 74 adapted to co-operate with a proximity sensor 75 fixed to the frame 33 and of known type, for example, like the proximity sensor described in our US. Pat. No. 3,636,470, which generates a strobe signal S (see below) on an output wire 76 connected directly to the controller 215 (FIG. 1).

The sensing elements 38a to n (FIG. 2) can moreover be shifted rigidly with the shaft 55 in the axial direction,

so that the respective vertical arms 45a to n can cooperate either with the bars 46a to n or with the bars 47a to n. The axial shifting of the sensing elements 38a to n is effected by means of a slide 77 to which the shaft 55 is fixed.

The slide 77 is formed by two parallel bars 78 and 79 guided by pins 80 to 83 fixed to the frame 33. The slide 77 is provided at one of its ends with a lug adapted to co-operate with a crank 91 fast with a shaft 92 rotatable in the frame 33.

The shaft 92 is rotated by a face cam 93 fast with a driven shaft 943. During a complete revolution of the face cam 93, the slide 77 is first shifted to the right, then held for a certain time in the position reached, and finally brought back into the initial position, that is shifted to the left. The face cam 93 is provided with a lobe 73a cooperating with a pin 92a radially fixed to the shaft 92.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vertical arms 45a to n are adapted to engage the sliders 46a to n or 47a to n selectively according to whether the slide 77 is shifted to the left or to the right, respectively. On the other hand, the two ends 39a to n and 40a to n always engage the same slider 20a to n irrespective of the position of the slide 77.

' On the driven shaft 94 (FIG. 2) there is fixed a lug 95 adapted to co-operate with a proximity sensor 96 of known type e.g. of the type of the abovementioned proximity sensor 75 and fixed to the frame 33. The sen- 6 on a wire 97 (FIG. 1) connected directly to the controller 15. The driven shaft 94 derives its motion from a shaft 98 through the medium of a clutch 99 of known type for example of the type of the above-mentioned clutch 73, the shaft 98 being connected in known manner to the driving shaft 72. The clutch 99 is activated when a lug 100 is removed from the path of a stud 101 belonging to the clutch 99. The lug 100 belongs to a lever 105 turning about a shaft 106 and moved by a rod 107 connected to the slider 46a. In this way, when the electromagnet 1 is energized, the bar 20a is shifted in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Consequently, the sensing element 380 is turned anticlockwise as indicated by chaindotted lines in FIG. 4, as a result of which the lever 105 is turned anticlockwise, given that the slide 77 is in its initial position, to the left.

In this way, the shaft 94 can be set in rotation by the shaft 98. v

A second lug 102 pivoting on a shaft 103 fixed to the frame 33 is adapted to interfere, when rotated clockwise, with the stud 101 after a rotation of the latter through 180 on the shaft 98, as a result of which the shaft 94 is arrested. The lug 102 is controlled by a device which will be described hereinafter.

The sliders 46a to n and 47a to n are provided at one of their ends with two slots 110 and 111 (FIG. 2) adapted to engage a corresponding tooth 112 of a bar 113. The bar 113 is adapted to rock about the shaft 68 owing to the effect of a cam 115, set in rotation by the shaft 71, and of a rocking lever 116. When, for example, the slider 46a is shifted forward, the tooth 112 engages the slot 110, while when the slider 46a is shifted backward the tooth 112 engages the slot 111, locking the sliders 46a to n in this way in the position reached.

The sliders 46a to n control a printing device indicated generally in FIG. 2 by the reference 120. The way in which the sliders 46a to n control the printing device is not described in detail here, since it is outside the scope of the present invention and known per se. This printing device 120 is described in detail in our US. Pat. No. 3,696,906. It is to be noted that in this cited patent a plurality of cams controls the selection of the characters. It is obvious that the movement of the cams can be derived from the movement of the bars 46a to n.

By way of example, in the following Table A there are indicated the possible functions which can be carried out by the printing device v120. Thus, for instance, the sliders 46b to h may be used to indicate the code of the character to be printed, while the other sliders 46a to 46i to n may control the functions indicated, according to whether they occupy one or the other of two positions indicated by 0 or 1 in Table A.-More particularly, if the slider 46a is in position 0, it prearranges the machine for carrying out a further printing cycle after sor 96 generates a second strobe signal T (see below) 55 the printing cycle in progress.

advan cc TABLE A-continued Slider O 1 Slider O l 46m Forward Backward 47m 46 Red Black 47" tabulation address code print print Similarly, the sliders 47a to n control other service functions of the machine and, more particularly, the sliders 47f to n are used by a tabulation device of known type and indicated generally in FIG. 2 by the reference 121 for decoding the tabulation positions.

The tabulation device 121 is not described in detail since it is outside the scope of the present invention and, it is described in the copending Application Ser. No. 476,434, filed June 5, 1974, in the name of the same Applicant. In this Application the kinematic train from the bars 47a to n to the tabulation device 127 and the tabulation device are described. From this Application it is clear that the kinematic train is actuated cyclically at each revolution of the shaft 94. If the duration of tabulation should be greater than the period of rotation of the shaft 94, this shaft 94 is arrested after a partial revolution, for example after 180, awaiting the end of the tabulation. The arrest of the shaft 94 is produced in any known manner whatsoever by the tabulation device 121 by means of the clockwise rotation of the lug 102. Then, when the tabulation is just terminating, the tabulation device 121 ensures that the lug 102 is brought back into the initial position, that is wherein it is rotated anticlockwise, thus permitting the shaft 94 to complete its rotation of one revolution. In this way, whatever may be the duration of the tabulation, the shaft 94 always performs a single revolution.

The way in which the lug 102 is actuated by the tabulation device 121 is described in the above cited Application; more particularly, the lug 102 may be actuated by the same kinematic train which moves the carriage (not shown) of the machine. In fact, if the tabulation position is not reached within the 180 rotation of the shaft 94, the aforesaid kinematic train causes the lug 102 to rotate clockwise, arresting the shaft 94. Only close to the arrest of the carriage is the lug rotated anticlockwise, allowing the shaft 94 to bring its rotation to an end. The sole link that the tabulation device 121 and also the printing device 120 must observe is that the respective tabulation and printing cycles be performed in a time equal to a whole multiple of the period of rotation of the driving shaft 72.

When the slider 46a is in position 1 (Table A), it actuates the clutch 99 in the manner described. The sliders 47f to n, on the other hand, are used to indicate the tabulation address code. The slider 47e is used to command the direction of tabulation.

The slider 470 controls a line spacing device of the machine (FIG. 5), while the slider 47d can be used to control the actuation of predetermined service functions as opening of a paper-holding hopper or receptacle of known type not shown in the drawing, while the sliders 47a and 47b are not used in the example illustrated. But hey can be iised as the sliders 47d for actuating other service ftlhfitions. The sliders 47a, 47b, 47d can He used for abtivfi ting service functions depending oil the particulaf e of the machine to which said fietians are faii'plie Eourse, the filifhber of sliders, both relating to the EWiEes and relating to the bits of the printihg and tabulation codes, respectively, may be discretionary, according to the particular use of the apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the slider 47c is connected to one end of a rocking lever pivoting on a pin 131 fixed to the frame 33. The other end of the rocking lever 130 co-operates through the medium of a pin 132 with a slotted hole 133 in a connecting rod 134. The connecting rod 134 co-operates with an eccentric 135 rotatable with the shaft 94 and carries a tooth 136 at one end thereof. Normally, the slider 470 is in position 0 (Table A) and the rocking lever 130 is turned clockwise, so that the tooth 136 of the connecting rod 134 does not interfere with the end 137 of a lever 138. When the slider 47c is shifted into position 1 (Table A), the rocking lever 130 is turned anticlockwise, so that the tooth 136 interferes with the end 137 of the lever 138, causing it to turn clockwise. The lever 138 causes a platen 141 to rotate through the medium, for example, of a ratchet lever 139.

Similarly, the slider 47d actuates a rod 140 which controls the opening of a paper-holding hopper not shown in the drawing.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. The shaft 71 (FIG. 2) is kept in rotation by the driving shaft 72, since the controller 15 normally keeps the electromagnet 13 activated. A complete rotation of the shaft 71 occurs, for example, in 62.5 msec.

During each cycle and in particular 45 msec. from the beginning of the cycle (FIG. 6), the sensor 75 sends the strobe signal S to the central unit 16 on the wire 76. The strobe signal S is used in known manner by the central unit 216 to enable the sending of a combination of bits relating to the cycle which will begin thereafter.

In the example being considered, let it be assumed that at the instant zero there is present a code combination in which the bit relating to the electromagnet l is of zero value. Thereafter, the shaft 71, during its rotation, raises the sensing elements 38a to n by means of the cams 69 and 70 and the rocking lever 58 and the sensing elements 38a to n sense the bars 20a to n 28 msec. from the beginning of the cycle. The sensing elements 38a to n are consequently rotated clockwise or anticlockwise according to the position of the bars 20a to n.

Since the bar 20a corresponding to the electromagnet 1 is shifted in the direction opposite to that of the arrow in FIG. 2, the sensing element 38a is rotated clockwise, as a result of which the clutch 99 is not actuated by the lever 105. Consequently all the sensing elements 38a to n remain in their left-hand position, so that their respective vertical arms 45a to n position only the sliders 46a to n appertaining to the printing device 120, which are locked, as described, by means of the bar 113.

Thereafter, this code combination is used, starting from 35 msec., by the printing device 120 for selecting the character to be printed. Of course, the selection must take place within 62.5 msec. from its commencement, that is up to 97.5 msec. For completeness, FIG.

6 also gives the printing cycle, which lasts from 64.5 to 127 msec., including the striking of the character around 100 msec.

As has already been stated, during the first cycle of the shaft 71 just described, the sensor 75 has sent the strobe signal S to the central unit 16 at 45 msec. from the beginning, so that at 62.5 msec., that is after a complete revolution of the shaft 71, there is present in the bars 20a to n the new code combination of the second character to be printed, in which the bit relating to the electromagnet l is now assumed, for example, equal to one. This value is stored in known manner by the central unit 16 to be used in the manner which will be described hereinafter.

The printing device 120 again sees to the selection and printing of the second character, as already described, the selection lasting from 97.5 to 160 msec. and the printing lasting from 127 to 189.5 msec.

Simultaneously with the selection and printing cycle just described, the electromagnet 1, shifting the bar 20a, produces the actuation of the clutch 99, as a result of which the shaft 94 is set in rotation starting from 1 msec., thus initiating the service cycle, i.e. a tabulation cycle. As can be noted from FIG. 6, the beginning of the service cycle (1 15 msec.) occurs within the selection cycle of the second character to be printed and within the printing cycle of the first character.

At 1 17 msec., the rotation of the shaft 94 causes, as has been seen, the shifting of the sensing elements 380 to n to the right, bringing them into correspondence with the sliders 47a to n appertaining to the tabulation device 121, the line spacing and hopper opening services.

The cam 93 is profiled in such manner that the sensing elements 38a to n reach the right-hand position at 142 msec. During the shifting of the sensing elements 38a to n, that is between 117 and 142 msec., a new code combination arrives from the central unit 16 at the instant corresponding to 125 msec., which corresponds to the beginning of the third cycle of the shaft 71. Thereafter, the shaft 71 brings the sensing elements 38a to it into correspondence with the bars 20a to n 28 msec. from the beginning of the third cycle, that is at 153 msec.

At this instant, as has been seen, the sensing elements 38a to n have already reached their right-hand position, so that they now position the sliders 47a to n.

The strobe signal S corresponding to the third cycle is sent by the sensor 75 at 170 msec. However, the central unit 216 which, as has been said, has stored the value 1 of the bit relating to the electromagnet 1, does not utilize this strobe signal S. In fact, when the central unit 216 stores this value it is informed thereby that a service function is being carried out, so that it does not send any bit combination at the beginning of the fourth cycle, but deactivates the electromagnet 13. The method by which the central unit 216 effects the operations which have just been described can easily be devised by an engineer expert in the design of logic circuits, for which reason it is not described in detail.

The deactivated electromagnet 13 produces the arrest of the shaft 71, so that the sensing elements 38a to n remain shifted to the right. If the code combination received represents a tabulation (sliders 47c and 47d in position 0 in Table A), it is used by the tabulation device 121 to identify the tabulation position which the carriage is to reach.

If this position is not reached within a rotation of the shaft 94 through that is within 208.5 msec., the actuating device 121 of the carriage rotates as described in the above cited Application, the lug 102 clockwise, causing the shaft 94 to stop, the shaft 94 being set in motion again when this position is just being reached. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 94 remains stationary for 62.5 msec. from the instant corresponding to 208.5 msec. Of course, the shaft 94 may remain stationary for'a longer time, provided this is a whole multiple of 62.5 msec.

When the shaft 94 is set in motion again, the sensing elements 38a to n are brought back into their initial left-hand position during the space of time of 44 msec. starting from 275 msec.

At the instant corresponding to 286 msec., the movement of the shaft 94 moreover produces the emission of the strobe signal T on the wire 97 by the sensor 96. This strobe signal T is received by the central unit 16, which is again enabled to actuate the electromagnet 13 and send at the beginning of the sixth cycle (that is at 312.5 msec.) the new code combination corresponding to the character to be printed in the programmed tabulation position.

It is to be noted that from the instant corresponding to 312.5 msec. the following functions overlap:

upward movement of the sensing elements 38a to n through the agency of the lever 58;

completion of the translation of the sensing elements 38a to n to the left;

completion of the tabulation cycle.

-It is appropriate to note that the activation of the electromagnet 13 by the central unit 16 occurs only after the reception of the strobe signal T which, as has been seen, is generated only 79 msec. before the end of the tabulation cycle, irrespective of its duration. The result is, therefore, that the aforesaid overlapping of functions remains unchanged and independent of the duration of the tabulation, it being only possible for the same to be translated in time by intervals which are whole multiples of the rotation cycle of the shaft 71. From the instant corresponding to 312.5 msec., the selection and striking cycles are repeated as already described.

Finally, in the event of the sliders 47c and 47d being in position 1 of Table A, the respective line spacing and hopper opening devices are actuated as described with reference to FIG. 5.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for governing the printing and service functions for an accounting machine and the like, comprising:

a plurality of elements for decoding in succession code combinations,

a printing mechanism for printing characters,

an actuating mechanism for actuating said service functions according to corresponding code combinations, and

a switching device controlled by an element of said plurality of elements for switching the following code combination selectively to said printing mechanism or to said actuating mechanism.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said code combinations comprise a plurality of bits associated with said plurality of elements and a look-ahead bit for controlling said element.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprismg:

a plurality of electromagnets comprised in said plurality of elements and controlled by said bits,

a plurality of bars controlled by said electromagnet for reaching selectively a first or a second position v in correspondence with the value of said bits,

a first plurality of sliders for controlling said printing mechanismand for identifying said characters and a second plurality of sliders for causing said actuating mechanism to actuate said service functions,

a plurality of sensing elements comprised in said switching device for sensing said bars cyclically in said first or said second position during successive sensing cycles, and for operating selectively with said first and said second plurality of sliders, and

a translation mechanism controlled by said lookahead bit for translating said sensing elements in correspondence with said first or said second plurality of sliders.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliders of said first plurality of sliders are disposed alternately with the sliders of said second plurality.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of sliders comprises a first slider associated with said look-ahead bit and a group of sliders for identifying said characters, said group of sliders being operated simultaneously with said first slider by the said sensing elements to actuate said printing mechanism.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprismg:

a driving shaft,

a first driven shaft comprised in said translation mechanism,

a first clutch actuated by said first slider to move said first driven shaft, and

a first cam fast with said first driven shaft for translating said sensing elements in correspondence with said second plurality of sliders during the sensing cycle of each code combination to actuate the service function corresponding to the next following code combination.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprisng:

ing:

a second clutch operable to move said second driven shaft, and

deactivating means controlled by said actuating mechanism for deactivating said second clutch at a first instant during the actuation of said service function.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said service functions are activated by said actuating mechanism in an interval of time which is a multiple of said sensing cycles, further comprising:

activating means controlled by said actuating mechanism for activating said clutch at a second instant preceding the end of said space, said second instant being spaced from the first instant by a time which is a multiple of said sensing cycles. 

1. Apparatus for governing the printing and service functions for an accounting machine and the like, comprising: a plurality of elements for decoding in succession code combinations, a printing mechanism for printing characters, an actuating mechanism for actuating said service functions according to corresponding code combinations, and a switching device controlled by an element of said plurality of elements for switching the following code combination selectively to said printing mechanism or to said actuating mechanism.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said code combinations comprise a plurality of bits associated with said plurality of elements and a look-ahead bit for controlling said element.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of electromagnets comprised in said plurality of elements and controlled by said bits, a plurality of bars controlled by said electromagnet for reaching selectively a first or a second position in correspondence with the value of said bits, a first plurality of sliders for controlling said printing mechanism and for identifying said characters and a second plurality of sliders for causing said actuating mechanism to actuate said service functions, a plurality of sensing elements comprised in said switchIng device for sensing said bars cyclically in said first or said second position during successive sensing cycles, and for operating selectively with said first and said second plurality of sliders, and a translation mechanism controlled by said look-ahead bit for translating said sensing elements in correspondence with said first or said second plurality of sliders.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sliders of said first plurality of sliders are disposed alternately with the sliders of said second plurality.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of sliders comprises a first slider associated with said look-ahead bit and a group of sliders for identifying said characters, said group of sliders being operated simultaneously with said first slider by the said sensing elements to actuate said printing mechanism.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a driving shaft, a first driven shaft comprised in said translation mechanism, a first clutch actuated by said first slider to move said first driven shaft, and a first cam fast with said first driven shaft for translating said sensing elements in correspondence with said second plurality of sliders during the sensing cycle of each code combination to actuate the service function corresponding to the next following code combination.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprisng: a second cam fast with a second driven shaft actuated by said driving shaft for generating said sensing cycles, said second cam comprising a projection for shifting said sensing elements to sense said bars, a lobe comprised in said first cam and offset in advance with respect to said projection for translating said sensing elements towards said second plurality of sliders before said projection shifts said sensing elements for sensing said bars.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a second clutch operable to move said second driven shaft, and deactivating means controlled by said actuating mechanism for deactivating said second clutch at a first instant during the actuation of said service function.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said service functions are activated by said actuating mechanism in an interval of time which is a multiple of said sensing cycles, further comprising: activating means controlled by said actuating mechanism for activating said clutch at a second instant preceding the end of said space, said second instant being spaced from the first instant by a time which is a multiple of said sensing cycles. 